Propagation, taxonomy and ecophysiological characteristics of the Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis in freshwater habitats of Beni-Suef Governorate (Egypt).

A new ecotype of Azolla fern has established in freshwater habitats at Beni-Suef Governorate. The fern propagates in shallow irrigation canals and drains with low-velocity water. Azolla fern is circular (fan-like) in shape with a diameter of 2-3 cm; the surface of the fronds is covered with trichomes and contains stomata with annular guard cells and central pores. Azolla is a sterile hybrid, only forming microsporocarps, never megasporocarps: the microsporocarp contains about 64 microsporangia. Each microsporangium consists of 4 massula, each characterized by the presence of anchor-like multiseptate glochidia covering the whole surface of the massula. This ecotype probably belongs to Azolla caroliniana on the basis of vegetative and reproductive characteristics. Growth (biomass yield) is seasonal, with higher biomass (3.0-4.5 kg m-2) and shorter doubling time in summer, reducing to about 1.0-1.5 kg m-2 in winter. Azolla plants accumulated the minerals Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb when growing in freshwater canals, drains and waste water. Salt stress treatment inhibited growth, nitrogen fixation and protein content. Iinhibitory levels of salinity were about 0.6-0.8 % NaCl. Growth and nitrogen fixation were inhibited at higher levels (2.4 mol m-3 and 5.1 mol m-3) of combined nitrogen (ammonium sulphate and urea). The ecophysiological significance of Azolla in the freshwater habitats of Beni-Suef Governorate is discussed

Prediction of Length of Postoperative Ventilation in CDH Survivors; Preoperative and Operative Variables

Background/Purpose: The period taken for complete weaning from ventilation in cases of repaired congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) varies greatly. We tried to relate the endo-tracheal tube removal time (ETTRT) in these cases with the different variables; both preoperative and operative. Materials & Methods: This is a retrospective study of cases of CDH survivors managed by the authors over the period from January 2003 till February 2010. The preoperative variables included gestational age, gender, birth weight, Apgar score, the time of intubation, the ventilation strategy, the presence of a significant PDA in the ECHO study and the time-lapse till surgery. The operative variables (all by laparotomy approach) included the side of the hernia, the herniated contents, the presence of a sac, the insertion of a chest tube and the degree of abdominal wall stretch required. The successful weaning from ventilation and ETTRT were classified into two groups; ≤7 days and > 7 days postoperatively. Results: During the study period, 26 cases were included (21 Males and 5 females). The ETTRT ranged from 2 to 23 days (mean=7.7 ±7.15). Among the variables studied; the statistically significant ones (P value < 0.05) were Apgar score at 1 minute (preoperatively) and the need for "vigorous" abdominal wall stretch (operatively). Conclusion: Apgar score of less than 8 at 1 minute; preoperatively, and the need for "vigorous" abdominal wall stretch; operatively, were associated with delayed weaning from ventilation in CDH survivors. This could have a predictive value in the management of these cases.Index Word: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Mechanical ventilation weaning, Endo-tracheal tube removal

Preliminary efficacy of a brief family intervention to prevent declining quality of life secondary to parental bone marrow transplantation

The primary purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a brief, cost-effective family-focused intervention to promote adaptive coping and quality of life throughout a parent's bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Targeted outcomes were cohesion, decreased use of avoidance coping, open communication and effective management of emotional distress. Participants included an intervention group of 31 families and 29 families in a control group who received usual care. Each family included the BMT recipient, a partner/caregiver and children 10-18 years old. The intervention included two dyadic sessions for the BMT recipient and the partner/caregiver, one individual session for the caregiver and two digital video discs (DVDs) for children. Statistical analyses indicated that the intervention had a positive impact on at least one aspect of the adaptation of each family member. Caregivers reported the most distress but benefitted least from the intervention, whereas recipients and children reported improvement in distress. Ratings of satisfaction/acceptability were high, with 97% responding that they would recommend the intervention to others. Plans for future research include increased intervention intensity for the caregiver, a larger more diverse sample and implementation over an extended period post BMT

Effect of family cohesion on symptom distress during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Purpose Family may play an important role in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recovery; however, little is known about the effect of family functioning on an individual’s health. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of family cohesion (family functioning) on the trajectory of HSCT recipients’ symptom distress (symptom frequency and symptom bother) before, during, and after HSCT. Methods Secondary analysis was conducted using data collected from178 individuals who underwent HSCT. Longitudinal parallel process (LPP) modeling was used to examine how family cohesion and HSCT-associated symptoms (symptom frequency and symptom bother) change over time, and how these longitudinal changes relate to each other. Results The trajectory of family cohesion predicted the trajectories of HSCT-associated symptom frequency and bother. HSCT recipients who experienced higher family cohesion at baseline (T1) showed lower symptom frequency (p < .01) as well as symptom bother (p < .01) at T1. This trajectory analysis also showed that HSCT recipients who had improved family cohesion over time reported decrease in symptom frequency (p < .01) as well as bother (p < .01) over time. Conclusion Findings indicate that higher family cohesion predicts decrease in symptom distress over the HSCT trajectory. Interventions aimed at enhancing family cohesion have the potential to lower HSCT recipients’ symptom distress. Further research is needed to understand the critical role of family cohesion and family functioning and their relationship with HSCT symptom distress prevention, early detection, and risk stratification

Factors Relating to Managerial Stereotypes: The Role of Gender of the Employee and the Manager and Management Gender Ratio

Several studies have shown that the traditional stereotype of a "good" manager being masculine and male still exists. The recent changes in the proportion of women and female managers in organizations could affect these two managerial stereotypes, leading to a stronger preference for feminine characteristics and female leaders. This study examines if the gender of an employee, the gender of the manager, and the management gender ratio in an organization are related to employees' managerial stereotypes. 3229 respondents working in various organizations completed an electronic questionnaire. The results confirm our hypotheses that, although the general stereotype of a manager is masculine and although most prefer a man as a manager, female employees, employees with a female manager, and employees working in an organization with a high percentage of female managers, have a stronger preference for feminine characteristics of managers and for female managers. Moreover, we find that proximal variables are much stronger predictors of these preferences than more distal variables. Our study suggests that managerial stereotypes could change as a result of personal experiences and changes in the organizational context. The results imply that increasing the proportion of female managers is an effective way to overcome managerial stereotyping. This study examines the influence on managerial stereotypes of various proximal and distal factors derived from theory among a large group of employees (in contrast to students)

Preliminary Investigation of the Corrosion Behavior of Proprietary Micro-alloyed Steels in Aerated and Deaerated Brine Solutions

The corrosion performance of fairly new generation of micro-alloyed steels was compared in different concentrations of aerated and deaerated brines. Electrochemical polarization, weight loss and surface analyses techniques were employed. The results showed a threshold of corrosion rate at 3.5 wt.% NaCl in both aerated and deaerated solutions. The average corrosion current density for steel B, for example, increased from 1.3 µA cm¯² in 1 wt.% NaCl to 1.5 µA cm¯² in 3.5 wt.% NaCl, but decreased to 1.4 µA cm¯² in 10 wt.% deaerated NaCl solutions. The aerated solutions exhibited an average of over 80% increase in corrosion current density in the respective concentrations when compared with the deaerated solution. These results can be attributed to the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) which has a maximum solubility in 3.5 wt.% NaCl. DO as a depolarizer and electron acceptor in cathodic reactions accelerates anodic metal dissolution. The difference in carbon content and microstructures occasioned by thermo-mechanical treatment contributed to the witnessed variation in corrosion performance of the steels. Specifically, the results of the various corrosion techniques corroborated each other and showed that the corrosion rate of the micro-alloyed steels can be ranked as CR[Steel A] < CRₓ₆₅ < CR[Steel B] < CR[Steel C]

Hypofibrinolysis in diabetes: a therapeutic target for the reduction of cardiovascular risk

An enhanced thrombotic environment and premature atherosclerosis are key factors for the increased cardiovascular risk in diabetes. The occlusive vascular thrombus, formed secondary to interactions between platelets and coagulation proteins, is composed of a skeleton of fibrin fibres with cellular elements embedded in this network. Diabetes is characterised by quantitative and qualitative changes in coagulation proteins, which collectively increase resistance to fibrinolysis, consequently augmenting thrombosis risk. Current long-term therapies to prevent arterial occlusion in diabetes are focussed on anti-platelet agents, a strategy that fails to address the contribution of coagulation proteins to the enhanced thrombotic milieu. Moreover, antiplatelet treatment is associated with bleeding complications, particularly with newer agents and more aggressive combination therapies, questioning the safety of this approach. Therefore, to safely control thrombosis risk in diabetes, an alternative approach is required with the fibrin network representing a credible therapeutic target. In the current review, we address diabetes-specific mechanistic pathways responsible for hypofibrinolysis including the role of clot structure, defects in the fibrinolytic system and increased incorporation of anti-fibrinolytic proteins into the clot. Future anti-thrombotic therapeutic options are discussed with special emphasis on the potential advantages of modulating incorporation of the anti-fibrinolytic proteins into fibrin networks. This latter approach carries theoretical advantages, including specificity for diabetes, ability to target a particular protein with a possible favourable risk of bleeding. The development of alternative treatment strategies to better control residual thrombosis risk in diabetes will help to reduce vascular events, which remain the main cause of mortality in this condition

Whole organisms or pure compounds? entourage effect versus drug specificity

As the therapeutic use of sacred plants and fungi becomes increasingly accepted by Western medicine, a tug of war has been taking place between those who advocate the traditional consumption of whole organisms and those who defend exclusively the utilization of purified compounds. The attempt to reduce organisms to single active principles is challenged by the sheer complexity of traditional medicine. Ayahuasca, for example, is a concoction of at least two plant species containing multiple psychoactive substances with complex interactions. Similarly, cannabis contains dozens of psychoactive substances whose specific combinations in different strains correspond to different types of therapeutic and cognitive effects. The “entourage effect” refers to the synergistic effects of the multiple compounds present in whole organisms, which may potentiate clinical efficacy while attenuating side effects. In opposition to this view, mainstream pharmacology is adamant about the need to use purified substances, presumably more specific and safe. In this chapter, I will review the evidence on both sides to discuss the scientific, economic, and political implications of this controversy. The evidence indicates that it is time to embrace the therapeutic complexity of psychedelics.2019-07-3

Evidence-based Kernels: Fundamental Units of Behavioral Influence

This paper describes evidence-based kernels, fundamental units of behavioral influence that appear to underlie effective prevention and treatment for children, adults, and families. A kernel is a behavior–influence procedure shown through experimental analysis to affect a specific behavior and that is indivisible in the sense that removing any of its components would render it inert. Existing evidence shows that a variety of kernels can influence behavior in context, and some evidence suggests that frequent use or sufficient use of some kernels may produce longer lasting behavioral shifts. The analysis of kernels could contribute to an empirically based theory of behavioral influence, augment existing prevention or treatment efforts, facilitate the dissemination of effective prevention and treatment practices, clarify the active ingredients in existing interventions, and contribute to efficiently developing interventions that are more effective. Kernels involve one or more of the following mechanisms of behavior influence: reinforcement, altering antecedents, changing verbal relational responding, or changing physiological states directly. The paper describes 52 of these kernels, and details practical, theoretical, and research implications, including calling for a national database of kernels that influence human behavior